Carroll Gardens

We've been living in Manhattan for a long time, but decided this year to look at places where the schools are still good, and we still wouldn't need a car, but we could get a lot more space for our money. I was also interested in a more "neighborhoody" vibe. This led us to Brooklyn. Being Manhattanites, we rarely left the island, so didn't know any of the neighborhoods too well before we started looking. But once we decided on the move, we spent tons of time in any Brooklyn neighborhood with good schools that was a close enough commute to the city. That includes Park Slope, Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill, Prospect Heights, Fort Greene and even Windsor Terrace, Gowanus and Greenwood.

Of all those neighborhoods, we most fell in love with Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill, with Carroll Gardens getting a slight edge due to the gardens and the higher density of italian shops/restaurants. But really, these feel mostly like a single neighborhood. The housing stock here tended to be very good (as opposed to large parts of Park Slope where the houses were not built all that well and do not look that great). The restaurant scene is amazing, and the commerce is thankfully far more compact than Park Slope. People take pride in the neighborhood. Carroll Park is great for kids. Though Prospect Park would have been nice, it is pretty quick to get there on the subway, and we will go into the city far more often than we will go into the park.

One of our biggest issues was the lack of housing availability. Few places come onto the market in Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill, and for good reason-- these are the most livable neighborhoods in the entire city, to my mind-- the close-nit "neighborhoody" vibe is mostly gone from manhattan now.

Carroll Gardens is a pleasant and unique neighborhood in Brooklyn. Predominantly Italian, the neighbors are united and unusually friendly, primarily because many of the families here have been around for generations. Most of the residents are involved in community organizations or the neighborhood association. There are a lot of elderly residents, but there are still plenty of young families and children too. Caroll Park is lovely, and the area also has plenty of shops, bars, and restaurants. You can find anything Italian on Court Street and there are plenty of trendy options on Smith Street. The housing here is cheaper than in Manhattan, Cobble Hill, or Brooklyn Heights, but it is far from cheap. This area is known for its lovely brownstones with gardens. Public transportation is pretty convenient, and the trip to midtown Manhattan takes about half an hour. The Carroll Gardens school district is excellent. P. S. 58 is particularly good. Overall, Carroll Gardens is an excellent choice for young professionals who are seeking a long term home for their families. It is also a great option for retirees who want to live in a place with a small town vibe, lovely parks, and neighbors who know their names.

I don't know if Carroll Gardens has done everything it can to deserve a place atop the list of Best Brooklyn 'Hoods here on StreetAdvisor, but it's at least a nice place to visit. I'm not sure how great the bar scene is, but there are at least a few restaurants in the area I would recommend visiting, not the least of which is Buttermilk Channel.

Carroll Gardens is a quiet, off-the-cuff area, the streets of which are mostly taken up by expensive brownstone residences. Wealthy residents take care of their little lawns, and a surprising number of people plant evergreens, making Carroll Gardens green all year long (though of course not AS green in winter). There aren't a lot of young people living in the area, because not many could afford it. That said, it's likely that young people would prefer to live in the neighboring areas of Red Hook and Gowanus, as they tend to be populated with bars and inexpensive cafes - as well as other young people.

It'd be a nice place to visit your grandmother, or to shop for antiques along Court or Smith Streets.

I'm a little surprised that Carroll Gardens has come out atop the list of all Brooklyn 'hoods, but that's not to say that it isn't a quaint little place deserving of some praise and perhaps some tourist action. The residential streets in Carroll Gardens tend to be both quiet and safe, and if you want to walk around here late at night with your headphones cranked you are unlikely to have any problems.

Walking around Carroll Gardens, it's likely to strike you just how many homes have driveways - and it is a good place to have a car, as the only trains that stop down here are the F and the G. The latter is notorious for not arriving on time, and those poor residents in the north side of Brooklyn (who are forced to take the G) do nothing but complain about it.

A friend of mine who lives in this neighborhood - and reportedly landed a sweet deal on a studio apartment; they're not easy to come by here - says that the area is safe because there are still some Italian mob dudes hanging around. I'm not sure how true this holds, but for whatever reason, there isn't much to fear in Carroll Gardens as far as public safety goes.

The neighborhood is surely being infiltrated by the surrounding trendy spots in Boreum and Cobble Hills. These areas are loaded with good places to eat and expensive places to buy women's wear, and as the real estate fills up in the Hills, these kinds of retail outlets are popping up in Carroll Gardens more and more.

The Grocery and Buttermilk Channel are two neighborhood restaurants that continue to please, and that continue to turn up in trend-setting mags and online foodie forums alike. There is also a good deal of nightlife that can be taken advantage of - bars like Prime Meats and Zombie Hut attract young South Slope residents who aren't scared to take the G train late at night (or call a car, which will get you there much faster).

Garden Living in Bococa” (visited the area)
Carroll Gardens which is located in South Brooklyn is an utterly charming neighborhood. This area which is named after Charles Carroll, who was a signatory to the declaration of Independence, is today clubbed along with Boerum Hill and Cobble Hill to make up a district of Brooklyn which is popularly known as “Bococa”.

Caroll Gardens was initially settled as an Italian neighborhood but is now favored by young professionals and families who occupy its many brownstone homes.Most of the brownstones that are located here are equipped with gardens and give the neighborhood its name- Carroll Gardens, even though Charles Caroll never really owned any property here.
The boundaries of Carroll Gardens are defined as Cobble Hill, Degraw Street, Hamilton Avenue, the Brooklyn Queens Expressway and the Gowanus Canal though the most desirable section of Carroll Gardens is believed to be the area that lies between First Place and Fourth Place.

The gradual gentrification of Carroll Gardens in recent years has seen Smith Street being established as its main shopping and dining drag. The traditional mom and pop stores of yesteryear which once dominated this street are now being replaced by “chi chi” boutiques like Dear Fieldbinder, Bird ,Lily and Lucia and stylish lifestyle stores like Andie Woo, Haskar and Environment 337. Aside from its shopping opportunities, Carroll Gardens is well known as popular dining destination in Brooklyn as it is home to many affordable and not so affordable restaurants like Buttermilk Channel, Zaytoons, Cubana Café, the Grocery and the Sunday brunch time favorite, Café Luluc.

The F train connects Carroll Gardens to Manhattan as it serves the area's Bergen, Carroll and Smith and 9th street stations while the G train connects Carroll Gardens to Queens. Aside from these subway lines, Carroll Gardens is also well served by the Brooklyn buses B65, B71, B75 and B77.

I really wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Brownstones everywhere. Excellent mix of natives, young families and young single transplants. Very close, friendly neighborhood feel, while still feeling like NY. Both Smith and Court streets are full of food and shopping. Good restaurants, excellent pizza (Lucali's is the best pizza I've ever had. Period.) It's pretty quiet during the day, although sometimes there can be a bit too many strollers. Excellent nightlife. Smith St has some of the best bars - Brooklyn Social, Bar Great Harry, etc.. During the summer you have to go to the Gowanus Yacht Club for cheep food and booze in the sun, with a fun but no BS staff. Over on Court St, Abilene is pretty much my favorite bar ever.

Definitely my favorite neighborhood in all of NY. If I didn't live here, I'd still come back as often as possible to hang out.

Carroll Gardens is a mixture of young and old, new brooklynites and veterans, and families and singles. It's a little quiter than other areas of Brooklyn like Fort Greene or Park Slope but close enough to restaurants and shops to feel connected. Prospect Park is close enough for a long walk or a quick bike ride. One of the best parts of Carroll Gardens is the proximity to Columbia St Waterfront and Red Hook. These areas have interesting events like Jazz Festivals, Ball Park Food Venders, Bluegrass Nights at bars, and glassblowing classes. PLUS Carroll Gardens has some of the best Italian Restaurants that I've ever been to.

Carroll Gardens is the best place to live, hands down! I have lived in Park Slope and various parts of Brooklyn Heights over the years and I love Carroll Gardens the best! Being between Court and Smith streets has been the best decision of my life. The shops and restaurants in this area are suitable for any age. This place is very safe and friendly for those of you scared of moving to Brooklyn. Prices are high, as to be expected by Brooklyn Heights, but its well worth it. This place is good for kids with all of the playgrounds, good for singles and couples who like a calm area, and great for retirees, too!

Carroll Gardens provides a 19th century charm combined with quiet tree-lined streets, making this neighborhood highly desirable. The rows of brownstones and red brick houses are nearly as beautiful as it gets in Brooklyn. The houses may not be as refined or as roomy as in Brooklyn Heights or Park Slope but are so neat and tidy that it is no wonder this vibrant neighborhood is attracting so many New Yorkers.

Most of the houses in the area are owned by well to do families and the apartments are rented by the twenty something crowd working in Manhattan. The average townhouse is currently selling for between 1 and 2 million dollars. There are even a few celebrities living in the area. It should also be noted that Carroll Gardens is famous in New York for its Halloween decorations, a site well worth seeing.

Shops, café’s, and restaurants are all within walking distance and the neighborhood is very close to the offices in Downtown and Midtown Manhattan. Subway stops are F or G to Carroll Street.

Smith Street and Court Street are where you will find most shops, service centers, and retail areas. Both streets are well served with laundromats, bakeries, and hair salons. Henry Street, which is just two blocks west of Court Street, also has a number of restaurants and shops to choose from.

One interesting note about Carroll Gardens is that the neighborhood was featured in the 1987 movie Moonstruck with Nicholas Cage. The Cammareri Brothers Bakery on Henry Street is where the leading couple falls in love.

Carroll Gardens is a classy neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. Once the settlement of Irish and Norwegian immigrants, this now largely Italian neighborhood is the site of gardens, beautiful town homes, and unique shops and restaurants on Smith Street or “Restaurant Row”, not mention having being frequented by “wiseguys” as infamous as Al Capone.

The gentrification movement of the 1960s brought about a period of change for the once mainly working class neighborhood. Today, this section of Brooklyn is amongst the most well-kept. The homages to its upward-moving history are ever-present, namely in the Norwegian Seamans' Church which is now a residential building and the “front” houses, brownstones with gardens in the front. Other great sights include St. Paul's Episcopal Church (199 Carroll Street) and St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church (467 Court Street) where mobster Al Capone was wed.

The scenic Carroll Park is a must-see in this tree-filled neighborhood, not to mention the many stores and restaurants which line Smith Street. Carroll Gardens epitomizes the neighborhood feel of Brooklyn and the unique culture it holds.

Transportation:
The F & G trains run through this neighborhood, keeping it easily accessible and convenient. The city bus also runs fluidly throughout the neighborhood.

Housing:
Real estate ranges from $500,000- $3 million dollars for a unit in or owning on of the row housing, while renting and subletting could range from $3,000-$10,000 depending on personal needs and tastes.

Shopping:
Mongo, 246 Smith St- Chic and eclectic clothing store filled with great finds
Flirt, 252 Smith St.- Great store for young women’s trendy fashion
The Green Onion, 274 Smith St.- Unique children’s clothing store
Soula, 185 Smith St.- Men’s footwear taken to the next level in this unique boutique

Dining & Entertainment:
Marco Polo Ristorante, 345 Court Street- If you like ‘The Sopranos,’ you’ll love this restaurant
P.J. Hanley's, Court Street & 4th Place
F. Monteleone & Cammareri Bros. Bakery, 355 Court St.- This bakery specializes in Italian delicacies, which will tantalize your palet
Smith & Vine, 268 Smith St.- Fantastic wine shop
Brooklyn Artisans Gallery, 221A Court St.- A cooperative art gallery that is a nice place to spend an afternoon
Lucali, 575 Henry St.- Wonderful pizza bistro
South Brooklyn Pizza, 451 Court St.- Best slice in South Brooklyn
Chestnut, 271 Smith St.- Great takes on traditional American fare
The Grocery, 288 Smith St- Great prices and great food
Cubana Café, 272 Smith St.- It’s like eating in Cuba without worrying about Chavez

Carroll Gardens is a beautiful and historic neighborhood that is sort of like an expansion of the loveliness of Brooklyn Heights. A tourist who has already seen the banalities would do themselves a favor to check out this area, which is especially pertinent for anyone who can appreciate historic sites like Nino’s (a token Italian eatery) and St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church (made from marble and European stones). The nineteenth century is still apparent in this neighborhood, which, rather than take away from the neighborhood, only adds to it. The neighborhood went from a working-class residency for Irish immigrants to the home of many first-generation Italians early in the twentieth century, and their influence over the community is still around now.